Spring has finally sprung…but what now?
The peepers are croaking, crocuses are breaking through, the signs are here; Spring has finally arrived! We are all feeling ready for sunshine and warm weather, and so is your landscape. But just like us, plants and trees may need a little help to recover from the brutal winter temperatures and weather. Here are several ways to aid your landscape in rebooting for the growing season.
Hibernating makes hedgehogs very hungry and thirsty, same goes for your plants
One way to help your landscape kick start into spring is deep root fertilization and watering. Frozen soil, leaf drop and frigid temperatures are stressful factors that limit a plants ability to uptake vital nutrients and water. Once temperatures are steadily warming and the spring thaw is underway plants are voraciously searching for nutrients and water to support their energy needs in order to grow and reproduce. While the unpredictable weather and changing soil conditions may not get them what they require right away, you can help by applying a deep-root, slow-release fertilizer. “Feeding” your plants during a wet or rainy day will be especially effective as they will already be in uptake mode.
Preemptive pruning paves the way for healthy leaves and landscape
Dead or dying limbs, multiple leads and excessively dense shrub growth can all lead to stressed or diseased plants. Pruning can help relieve stress and reduce unnecessary energy expenditures, while allowing for more light penetration and airflow. Removal of large dead or dying limbs can also provide significant safety improvements to your home, family and property. Ask you arborist to evaluate trees and shrubs which could benefit from pruning.
Too much mulch is wasted work
Once the snow melts you may notice some of the mulch placed in beds and around shrubs has decomposed, compacted or washed away. Adding more mulch is one of the easiest way to spruce up your landscape, but apply with caution as certain products can affect your soil chemistry and too much mulch will compact roots and lead to rot. Be careful not to mound mulch around the root flare or shrub base. So remember when it comes to mulch choose the right product and less is more.
